Second Harvest of the Big Bend gets $1M for warehouse; will Tallahassee get mayoral candidate Montford?

Tallahassee state delegation celebrate a $1 million grant to Second Harvest food bank
James Call

Sen. Montford credits Rep. Loranne Ausley for securing the money. Montford to decide by weekend whether to run for Mayor.

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Rick Minor, CEO of the Second Harvest of the Big Bend, speaks at a press conference at the food bank's warehouse Wednesday, March 21, 2018, thanking legislators for the $1 million set aside for the organization in this year's state budget.(Photo: Hali Tauxe/Democrat)Buy Photo

Second Harvest distributes food in an 11-county region of the Big Bend and assists downstate food banks in the aftermath of hurricanes and other emergency events.

It was the sort of photo op a Tallahassee mayor would relish.

But as he pondered his decision about whether to seek that job, Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, wanted to make sure the event was a celebration of another's hard work.

On Wednesday, Montford joined fellow Democrat Rep. Loranne Ausley to announce a $1 million check from the state for the Second Harvest of the Big Bend food bank.

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Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, speaks at a press conference at the Second Harvest of the Big Bend warehouse Wednesday, March 21, 2018, touting the $1 million set aside for the organization in this year's state budget.(Photo: Hali Tauxe/Democrat)

Within 10 seconds of being handed the microphone at a news conference to discuss how the money will be spent, Montford summoned Ausley to his side.

“Come on over here,” Montford beckoned to Ausley, who many consider his heir apparent when Montford is term-limited in two years or resigns this year.

“We’re a team up here and we work together well,” Montford said to Ausley, standing among the food bank staff.

Montford dismissed a suggestion he had tipped his hand when he deflected attention to Ausley and worked the room like a candidate. Before the news conference, he engaged onlookers in conversations about Tallahassee high schools when he was a teacher and principal and they were students.

Montford said it was a tough budget year. Since there was little money available for local projects, he was happy to celebrate a legislative victory for North Florida. Second Harvest contacted him more than a year ago about the project. This session, “Rep. Ausley jumped on board and we were able to do it,” said Montford.

It is a $2 million project, half of the money from the state, to purchase the Second Harvest of the Big Bend warehouse in southwest Tallahassee. The money will also be used to buy a high capacity generator and make other storm-hardening renovations at the facility.

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The Second Harvest of the Big Bend warehouse, pictured Wednesday, March 21, 2018. The organization plans to buy the warehouse, which they currently rent, with the help of a $1 million contribution from the state legislature.(Photo: Hali Tauxe/Democrat)

Second Harvest serves 11-north Florida counties and is a central hub for food and water distribution during down-state emergencies. After hurricanes Hermine and Irma, more than 350,000 pounds of food and supplies moved through its Tallahassee warehouse to affected areas.

“I believe this will do so much to help those people who are in need and especially those children out there who are our most vulnerable,” said Montford.

Second Harvest provides food to more than 55,000 families monthly.

“It’s not right to have someone look like me and there are hungry children, going to bed," observed the husky Monford. "We’re doing something wrong.”

Many are eager to see which bully pulpit — the Capitol or City Hall — he intends to use to address the issue.

“We had quite a challenging session because of a number of issues," Montford said, "but I’ve taken a few days off here and my plan is by this weekend I will have a decision.”